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2026-2027

Vermont Deer Hunting Seasons 2026-2027

Vermont combines statewide/WMU seasons with eight exact named 2026 Expanded Archery Zones mapped through official ANR polygons; Sept. 15-30 is antlerless deer only.

Last checked: 2026-09-11 Source: Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department 14 season records
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1. When are you hunting?
2. Where are you hunting?

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Vermont deer map

Click a county or zone to see what seasons match that place.

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3. How are you hunting?

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We will show matching season windows here before you dig into maps or source records.

Season data compiled and verified against official state sources. Regulations can change. Confirm current rules before hunting.

? Field Honest summarizes official hunting regulations for convenience. Official agency regulations remain controlling.
Technical detail Open source-record archive 14 detailed records with notes and agency links.
Underlying records

Source-record archive

The quick finder above is the main view. These records keep the supporting geography, harvest notes, and source links together.

Showing records by method. Large states show a preview first; search to narrow the source table.

Archery

Bow, crossbow, or archery-only windows where listed. 10 seasons
Season Dates Geography Notes
Expanded archery deer season Legal Deer under Expanded-area Rules General hunters Designated areas Source table only
Sep 15, 2026 - Sep 30, 2026
Designated expanded-archery areas special_area_group

Current 2026 statewide EAZ framework overview. Eight exact named zones are modeled separately; Sept. 15-30 is antlerless deer only.

Official source
Bennington Area expanded archery zone — antlerless-only early archery Antlerless Deer Only Valid Archery License under All Archery-season Requirements Designated Private and Public Lands Where Hunting and Access Are Legal Land/access check
Sep 15, 2026 - Sep 30, 2026
Bennington Area expanded archery zone expanded_archery_zone

Official 2026 Vermont Expanded Archery Zone. Only antlerless deer may be taken Sept. 15-30. Landowner permission, municipal discharge ordinances and all archery-season rules remain controlling.

Official source
Brattleboro Area expanded archery zone — antlerless-only early archery Antlerless Deer Only Valid Archery License under All Archery-season Requirements Designated Private and Public Lands Where Hunting and Access Are Legal Land/access check
Sep 15, 2026 - Sep 30, 2026
Brattleboro Area expanded archery zone expanded_archery_zone

Official 2026 Vermont Expanded Archery Zone. Only antlerless deer may be taken Sept. 15-30. Landowner permission, municipal discharge ordinances and all archery-season rules remain controlling.

Official source
Burlington Area expanded archery zone — antlerless-only early archery Antlerless Deer Only Valid Archery License under All Archery-season Requirements Designated Private and Public Lands Where Hunting and Access Are Legal Land/access check
Sep 15, 2026 - Sep 30, 2026
Burlington Area expanded archery zone expanded_archery_zone

Official 2026 Vermont Expanded Archery Zone. Only antlerless deer may be taken Sept. 15-30. Landowner permission, municipal discharge ordinances and all archery-season rules remain controlling. Municipal ordinances prohibit archery discharge throughout Burlington, South Burlington and Winooski; Essex Junction also limits where archery equipment may be discharged.

Official source
Montpelier expanded archery zone — antlerless-only early archery Antlerless Deer Only Valid Archery License under All Archery-season Requirements Designated Private and Public Lands Where Hunting and Access Are Legal Land/access check
Sep 15, 2026 - Sep 30, 2026
Montpelier expanded archery zone expanded_archery_zone

Official 2026 Vermont Expanded Archery Zone. Only antlerless deer may be taken Sept. 15-30. Landowner permission, municipal discharge ordinances and all archery-season rules remain controlling.

Official source
Newport expanded archery zone — antlerless-only early archery Antlerless Deer Only Valid Archery License under All Archery-season Requirements Designated Private and Public Lands Where Hunting and Access Are Legal Land/access check
Sep 15, 2026 - Sep 30, 2026
Newport expanded archery zone expanded_archery_zone

Official 2026 Vermont Expanded Archery Zone. Only antlerless deer may be taken Sept. 15-30. Landowner permission, municipal discharge ordinances and all archery-season rules remain controlling.

Official source
Rutland Area expanded archery zone — antlerless-only early archery Antlerless Deer Only Valid Archery License under All Archery-season Requirements Designated Private and Public Lands Where Hunting and Access Are Legal Land/access check
Sep 15, 2026 - Sep 30, 2026
Rutland Area expanded archery zone expanded_archery_zone

Official 2026 Vermont Expanded Archery Zone. Only antlerless deer may be taken Sept. 15-30. Landowner permission, municipal discharge ordinances and all archery-season rules remain controlling. Rutland City ordinances prohibit archery-equipment discharge throughout the city.

Official source
Saint Johnsbury Area expanded archery zone — antlerless-only early archery Antlerless Deer Only Valid Archery License under All Archery-season Requirements Designated Private and Public Lands Where Hunting and Access Are Legal Land/access check
Sep 15, 2026 - Sep 30, 2026
Saint Johnsbury Area expanded archery zone expanded_archery_zone

Official 2026 Vermont Expanded Archery Zone. Only antlerless deer may be taken Sept. 15-30. Landowner permission, municipal discharge ordinances and all archery-season rules remain controlling.

Official source
Wildlife Management Unit A expanded archery zone — antlerless-only early archery Antlerless Deer Only Valid Archery License under All Archery-season Requirements Designated Private and Public Lands Where Hunting and Access Are Legal Land/access check
Sep 15, 2026 - Sep 30, 2026
Wildlife Management Unit A expanded archery zone expanded_archery_zone

Official 2026 Vermont Expanded Archery Zone. Only antlerless deer may be taken Sept. 15-30. Landowner permission, municipal discharge ordinances and all archery-season rules remain controlling.

Official source
Archery and crossbow deer season Legal Deer under License and WMU Rules General hunters
Oct 1, 2026 - Dec 15, 2026
Statewide subject to WMU and license rules statewide_with_wmu_rules

The 2026 rule change keeps archery open continuously through the regular firearm and December muzzleloader periods.

Official source

Firearm

General rifle, gun, and firearm framework seasons. 1 season
Season Dates Geography Notes
Regular deer season Legal Deer under License and WMU Rules General hunters
Nov 14, 2026 - Nov 29, 2026
Statewide subject to WMU and antler rules statewide_with_wmu_rules

WMU-specific antler restrictions and license conditions remain controlling.

Official source

Muzzleloader

Muzzleloader-only or late muzzleloader opportunities. 2 seasons
Season Dates Geography Notes
October muzzleloader antlerless deer season Antlerless Only Applicable Antlerless Permit Holders Special rules
Oct 29, 2026 - Nov 1, 2026
Authorized WMUs under antlerless permits permit_wmu_group

Only WMUs listed for 2026 antlerless permits qualify. The modeled WMU set is A, B, C, D1, D2, F1, F2, G, H, I, J1, J2, K, L, M, N, O, P and Q; a valid antlerless permit and muzzleloader tag are required.

Official source
December muzzleloader deer season Legal Deer under License, Permit and WMU Rules General hunters
Nov 30, 2026 - Dec 13, 2026
Statewide subject to WMU, permit and license rules statewide_with_wmu_rules

Antlerless harvest depends on the applicable permit and WMU authorization.

Official source

Youth

Youth-only, apprentice, or early youth windows. 1 season
Season Dates Geography Notes
Youth and novice deer weekend Legal Deer under Youth/novice and WMU Rules Qualified Youth and Novice Hunters Special rules
Nov 7, 2026 - Nov 8, 2026
Statewide subject to youth, novice and WMU rules statewide_with_wmu_rules

Participation and harvest eligibility depend on the official youth/novice requirements and applicable WMU rules.

Official source
Plan the rest of the trip

Outfitters and gear stops in Vermont

Find local help and a practical place to gear up before your Vermont hunt.

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Hunting in Vermont

How to plan a Vermont deer hunt

Start by matching your exact hunt date and legal method to the county, unit, zone, hunt code, or special area that controls the trip. The map is for orientation; the linked agency rules remain the legal source.

Field Honest currently organizes 14 Vermont deer-season records across named public and special hunt areas, management zones and units, statewide rules, permit and hunt-code areas. Use the trip checker above to narrow the list before comparing local outfitters and physical gear stops.

Methods represented Archery, Firearm, Muzzleloader, Youth

A method label is only a starting point. Weapon rules and hunt-code restrictions may be narrower.

How the state is organized named public and special hunt areas, management zones and units, statewide rules, permit and hunt-code areas

Always match the place named on your license or tag to the current legal description.

Primary official source Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department

Field Honest source review: September 10, 2026.

Before you leave home

  • Confirm the exact season window, legal method, and harvest restriction.
  • Verify license, tag, draw, hunt-code, and hunter-eligibility requirements.
  • Check the legal boundary, land access, closures, and landowner permission.
  • Review current reporting, transport, and CWD rules where they apply.